Hesson pleased with 'seamless' transition

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Mike Hesson (Gallo)

Wellington - New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has been pleased with the way the team has taken to Kane Williamson as the new captain, and feels Williamson and former skipper Brendon McCullum are similar leaders.

McCullum was famous for his innovative and positive approach to the role, and Hesson thinks that because Williamson was able to learn from this, the change in captaincy has not been jarring.

Hesson, speaking ahead of the Black Caps' series against India, said: "Kane captained, I think, 36 games before he took over full-time.

"Even during the time that Brendon was captain, for a number of tours or part of the tours, Kane came in and it was a very seamless change.

"I think the key to any captain-coach relationship is to making sure that we use each other's strengths. Kane is very thoughtful, methodical, [as a] player likes to plan well, but also likes his own time.

"Brendon wasn't hugely dissimilar to that; he prepared really well. He was probably a little bit more of a high profile, sort of 'out there' character, especially in New Zealand.

"As you see, Kane is probably slightly more of a backseat [type] but within the team they operate in a very similar fashion."

Looking at the series in India, Hesson is aware that spin will play a huge part, and he hopes the batsmen use the lessons they recently learned in Zimbabwe, where they won the series on a spinning deck.

The coach said: "That [Zimbabwe tour] was very much a spin-dominant series and conditions. Although it didn't spin as much, it certainly was slower and probably similar pace that we are going to face in India.

"The week between the series has been about rest really and recovery, and obviously the next week-to-ten days is going to be critical to be really specific around individual game plans."